Efficacy of Measuring Oxygen Extraction Ratio for Determination of Intraoperative Red Blood Cell Transfusion in a Case with Chronic Normovolemic Anemia

Abstract

  Allogeneic red blood cell transfusion should not be dictated, unless the patient's oxygen-carrying capacity is decompensated, and the signs and symptoms requiring blood transfusion have been observed. In cases with chronic normovolemic anemia, an increase of 2, 3-DPG compensates the patient's oxygen delivery capacity by leading the hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve shift to right, thereby allowing the unloading of a normal oxygen amount with a lower concentration of hemoglobin, which makes it difficult to assess the appropriate timing for red blood cell transfusion. Here, we describe the efficacy of measuring the oxygen extraction ratio in such a case.